Wednesday, January 8

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Court Remands Yahaya Bello In EFCC Custody Till December 10
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Court Remands Yahaya Bello In EFCC Custody Till December 10

The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the trial of former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, to December 10 while remanding him in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The EFCC had also opposed his bail application in court on Wednesday. Yahaya Bello had earlier pleaded "not guity" to the 16 counts charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission at the Federal High Court. His case was adjourned to December 10 for the reading of his bail application. He is to remain with the EFCC. The fraud trial involving Yahaya Bello, had become chaotic on Wednesday morning when a crowd of his supporters stormed the court room. Bello, who was arraigned at the FCT High Court on Wednesday, had asked his rascally followers ...
Hon. Aderogba Donates Computer Set To Oyo APC Secretariat
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Hon. Aderogba Donates Computer Set To Oyo APC Secretariat

A leading aspirant for the Ibadan North Federal Constituency under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Honourable Taofeek Adebayo Aderogba (mni), has donated a computer set worth over a million Naira to the Oyo State Secretariat of the party at Oke Ado, Ibadan. Making the donation on behalf of Honourable Aderogba, the leader of Aderogba Vanguard, Mr. Ademoye Ajani, stated that this donation aims to assist the State Secretariat in carrying out its work effectively. According to him, Honourable Aderogba is a grassroots politician whose love for the masses is unrivaled. "Honourable Taofeek Adebayo Aderogba is a politician with a heart of kindness. He is a man of integrity whose good reputation precedes him wherever he goes. He has the experience and expertise to ele...
EFCC Arrests Ex-Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello Over Alleged Fraud
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EFCC Arrests Ex-Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello Over Alleged Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has detained for prosecution a former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, over alleged multi billion naira fraud. EFCC Spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said that the former governor of Kogi was arrested at about 12 54 p.m on Tuesday and detained in its Abuja office. He said that Mr Bello, who was declared wanted by the commission, never submitted himself but got arrested by the operatives of the agency in Abuja. Mr Oyewale stated, ‘‘We arrested him (Yahaya Bello) at 12.54pm; he did not surrender himself to the commission, three of his lawyers are here with him. Following his arrest, he is having a session with investigators of the commission. He is being detained in our custody and he is going to be arraigned in court accordingly.”
Sanwo-Olu Suspends Aide Who Revealed How Soldiers Executed #EndSARS Protesters For Attacking Tinubu’s TVC
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Sanwo-Olu Suspends Aide Who Revealed How Soldiers Executed #EndSARS Protesters For Attacking Tinubu’s TVC

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has suspended his media aide, Wale Ajetunmobi, over comments he made on social media admitting the execution of #EndSARS protesters in 2020. In a statement on Tuesday, the governor’s spokesman, Gboyega Akosile, said Mr Ajetunmobi’s suspension followed his “misrepresentation of facts on his personal X account on a past incident.” “The governor wishes to state categorically that his administration frowns at any form of extrajudicial punishment and will not be a part of any such action. That is not who we are. That is not our way,” said Mr Sanwo-Olu’s aide. Mr Ajetunmobi had, in a now-deleted post on Sunday, confessed that some of the arsonists who set ablaze Television Continental (TVC) during the nationwide protest against police brutality were executed...
Petrol Price Hike: Port Harcourt Refinery Begins Operation
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Petrol Price Hike: Port Harcourt Refinery Begins Operation

The Port Harcourt Refinery, managed by NNPCL through the Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited has commenced operations after undergoing rehabilitation and modernisation. The refinery with 210,000 bpd refining capacity located at Alesa, Eleme, in Port Harcourt, comprises two operational units established in 1965 and 1989. The old plant refines a capacity of 60,000 barrels per day (bpd), while the new plant refines 150,000bpd. The federal government, under former President Muhammadu Buhari, had in March 2021 secured a $1.5 billion loan to rehabilitate the facility, which contract was awarded to an Italian firm, Tecnimont S.P.A, a subsidiary of Maire Tecnimont Group. NNPCL boss Mele Kyari is leading the team in inspecting the first lifting of petroleum products from the facilit...
My Silence on Nigeria Sports deliberate, says Gara Gombe
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My Silence on Nigeria Sports deliberate, says Gara Gombe

Abuja, Nov. 25, 2024 - Sports entrepreneur and former Gombe United FC Chairman Hon. Ahmed Shuaibu Gara-Gombe has said that only administrators with skeletons in sports can afford to bar stakeholders from expressing their views on sports development in Nigeria. In a chat with journalists recently, Gara-Gombe noted that on several occasions, he has been barred from expressing his views over major development and appointment in Nigeria sports in Radio and Television Stations in Nigeria. "All sports stakeholders and those who appreciate my modest contributions in Nigeria sports, especially trying to always put sports administrators and managers on their toes." "I advise them not to worry as many people have been calling me, sending messages to my friends and close associates asking w...
Land Acquisition: You’re Risking Historical Infamy As Oyo’s First Governor To Promote Land Grabbing Activities
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Land Acquisition: You’re Risking Historical Infamy As Oyo’s First Governor To Promote Land Grabbing Activities

Following his incessant acquisition of both public and private lands for housing estates and shopping malls, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State and former gubernatorial aspirant, Engineer Oyedele Hakeem Alao, has urged Governor Seyi Makinde to control his insatiable appetite for land acquisition. In a press statement from his media office, Alao criticized the Governor's continued land acquisitions, which he said have significantly increased hardship for the people of Oyo State. "With your insatiable appetite for acquiring both public and private lands in Oyo State, especially in Ibadan, you will be remembered as the governor who used his office to promote land grabbing activities in the State. Your conversion of public lands into housing estates without ...
Compensation Scheme: Enrol more workers, Labour minister charges NSITF
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Compensation Scheme: Enrol more workers, Labour minister charges NSITF

From Left: Ngozi Anukwu, Director Social Security, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, MD/CE NSITF, Oluwaseun Faleye, Executive Director Operations, Mojisolaoluwa Alli-Macaulay& Executive Director Finance, Adegoke Adedeji at the NSITF Service Awards Ceremony, Thursday, in Abuja. By Joan Nwagwu Mr Muhammadu Dingyadi, Minister of Labour and Employment has urged the management of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund(NSITF) to intensify efforts towards the enrollment of more workers in all sectors into the Employees Compensation Scheme(ECS) . Dingyadi said this at the NSITF 2022/2023 Service Award on Sunday in Abuja.This was contained in a statement signed by Mr Nwachukwu Godson, General Manager, Corporate Affairs of NSITF. Dingyadi represented by Mrs Ngozi Anukwu, D...
NGO donates N5.8m to 29 orphanage homes in FCT
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NGO donates N5.8m to 29 orphanage homes in FCT

The Chadash Empowerment Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has donated N200,000 each to 29 orphanage homes in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), totaling N5.8 million The Founder of the Foundation, Mrs Temitope Adeola, stated this at the organisation’s 2024 World Orphans Day event, held in honor of orphans in the FCT on Saturday in Abuja. She said the donation aimed to alleviate the plights of orphans in the country. Adeola stated that the initiative had grown from supporting 25 orphanages last year to assisting 30 this year, with quarterly donations of food and other necessities. She explained that the initiative was born out of her desire in 2018 to help widows and orphans. “The Foundation has also constructed a new two-bedroom flat for Maranata orphanag...
Police Recover ‘Explosives’ In Borno
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Police Recover ‘Explosives’ In Borno

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) says its operatives in Borno have recovered some explosives in Maiduguri, the state capital. In a statement issued on Saturday, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, police spokesperson, said the explosive ordnance disposal—chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (EOD-CBRN) team recovered the explosives. All ordnances were safely evacuated without any loss of life, injury, or property damage, and normalcy has been restored,” the statement reads. All ordnances were safely evacuated without any loss of life, injury, or property damage, and normalcy has been restored,” the statement reads. In the Dala Kacchallah area, the operatives recovered six (6) unexploded projectiles and one (1) mortar bomb near an uncompleted building. “Reports indicate that the item...
Expert wants urgent completion of SCADA project to stabilise national grid
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Expert wants urgent completion of SCADA project to stabilise national grid

By Constance Athekame A power expert, Prof. Stephen Ogaji, has emphasised the need for the system operator to complete and inaugurate the Supervisory Control and Data (SCADA) project to effectively supervise the national grid. Ogaji made the call at the 2024 Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC) Media Engagement and Training in Abuja on Thursday. He also urged the system operator to implement the Generation Dispatch Tool (GDT) and enforce all provisions of the grid code. Additionally, Ogaji called on the Nigerian Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC) to approve the procurement of Ancillary Services that provide secondary controls (Spinning Reserve). Ogaji warned that the incessant disruption of normal grid operation could lead to reduced plant availability, hi...
NPC partners AIG-Imokhuede Foundation to enhance public service productivity
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NPC partners AIG-Imokhuede Foundation to enhance public service productivity

National Productivity Centre (NPC) says it will partner Aig-Imokhuede Foundation to enhance productivity and efficient service delivery in the country’s public sector. Director-General of NPC, Dr Baffa Dan’Agundi, stated this when a team from the foundation paid a courtesy visit to the centre on Thursday in Abuja. Dan’Agundi said that partnership between the two organisations would enhance sustainable growth, innovation and effectiveness in Nigeria’s public sector. According to him, the partnership is aimed at elevating the managerial and operational competencies of civil servants at the sub-national level through the utilisation of innovative productivity improvement tools and techniques. “It also aims to strengthen capacities for effective policy design and implementation, w...
CEPASD Trains 1000 Students on Gender Based Violence and SRHR in Secondary Schools in FCT
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CEPASD Trains 1000 Students on Gender Based Violence and SRHR in Secondary Schools in FCT

By Gami Tadanyigbe  The Center for Peace Advocacy and Sustainable has trained and empowered over 1000 students in AMAC, Bwari and Kuje through it STEAM Educational Based Learning approach on Gender Based Violence and SRHR as part of CEPASD project activities on Promoting Gender Equality and Women Empowerment: An Approach to End SGV supported by Government of Ireland through the Embassy of Ireland Nigeria  The Executive Director CEPASD, Mr. Augustine Igweshi stated that the aim of the training is to empower students with the knowledge about Gender Based Violence and SRHR to advocate against SGBV and promote SRHR in their schools and communities.   The training and empowerment was carried out at Government Girls Science Secondary School Kuje, Government Science ...
GBB, Bauchi govt. sign MOU to enhance digital infrastructure, ICT
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GBB, Bauchi govt. sign MOU to enhance digital infrastructure, ICT

L-R Professor Ibrahim A. Adeyanju, Managing Director/CEO Galaxy Backbone, His Excellency, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, Executive Governor, Bauchi State. During the MOU signing ceremony By Jessica Dogo Abuja, Nov. 21, 2024 (NAN) Galaxy Backbone (GBB) and the Bauchi State Government have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on deploying digital infrastructure and ICT-related services across the state. The Head of Corporate CommunicationsGalaxy Backbone, Mr Chidi Okpala, in a statement said this was a significant step towards advancing digital transformation and fostering economic development in Nigeria. "This MOU establishes a collaborative framework between Galaxy Backbone and the Bauchi State Government, leveraging GBB's world-class data center infras...
Stakeholders advocate adequate funding for efficiency in Judiciary system
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Stakeholders advocate adequate funding for efficiency in Judiciary system

By Jacinta Nwachukwu Some stakeholders in the judiciary have advocated adequate funding in the judicial system to enhance the overall efficiency of the sector. The stakeholders expressed their concern during the 2024 Access to Justice Parley organised by the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC), on Wednesday in Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Access to Justice project, an initiative of PPDC, is supported from the United States Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. The Chief Executive Officer of PPDC, Lucy Abagi, said that there was need to adequately fund the justice sector, saying that the sector was underdeveloped and lacked the capacity to adequately address the justice needs of the population. ...
Army Begins Investigation Into Alleged Soldiers’ Brutalising Of Couple In Abuja
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Army Begins Investigation Into Alleged Soldiers’ Brutalising Of Couple In Abuja

Acting army Olufemi Oluyede has ordered an investigation into alleged soldiers’ brutality of a couple. It said a viral audio-visual recording circulating on social media platforms purportedly showed a senior army officer and two other soldiers in an altercation with a man and woman within the Abuja metropolis. According to him, the circumstances leading to this incident are not clear. “However, the acting chief of army staff has ordered an immediate investigation to unravel the true circumstances surrounding this altercation. “The Nigerian army remains committed to serving and protecting all law-abiding Nigerians as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “Therefore, we urge the public to be rest assured that due diligence will be applied to reach ...
FG Reveals WMO’s Pledge To Support Nigeria’s Climate Resilience
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FG Reveals WMO’s Pledge To Support Nigeria’s Climate Resilience

On Wednesday, the World Meteorological Organisation pledged to provide technical support to Nigeria in addressing climate change challenges. Aviation minister Festus Keyamo said in a statement that WMO’s deputy secretary-general, Ko Barrett, made the commitment during a session with Nigeria’s delegation at COP 29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Mr Keyamo stated that as one of the WMO’s peer advisors, Nigeria would benefit from the organisation’s assistance in strengthening climate resilience strategies, particularly in the aviation sector. He emphasised the interconnectedness of aviation and climate change, noting the need for sustainable practices across all sectors. Speaking at the Nigerian Pavilion during the celebration of Nigeria Day at COP 29, Mr Keyamo stressed the importance of a...
INEC Promotes 1,731 Officers
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INEC Promotes 1,731 Officers

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved the promotion of 1,73 officers who excelled in the 2024 promotion examinations. This was announced in a statement on Tuesday. A detailed breakdown of the promotions list showed that 59 deputy directors were elevated to the rank of directors, 168 assistant directors to the rank of deputy directors. Also, 167 chiefs on grade level 14 were elevated to the position of assistant directors, and 1,337 other officers between grade levels 7 and 13, were also promoted, accordingly. Tadese said that the exercise marked another milestone underscoring INEC’s unwavering commitment to enhancing staff welfare and supporting career progression. The statement reiterated INEC’s commitment to fostering a supportive work environm...
Alleged N2.7 Billion Fraud: Ex-BPP Director Testifies Against Former Aviation Minister Sirika
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Alleged N2.7 Billion Fraud: Ex-BPP Director Testifies Against Former Aviation Minister Sirika

An EFCC witness, Musa Odiniya, told the Abuja High Court that Al-Duraq Investment Limited, registered in 2021, got the contract for the construction of the Apron Extension at Katsina Airport in 2022. Mr Odiniya, a former director of procurement at the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), made this known while testifying in the alleged N2.7 billion contract fraud against a former Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika. The EFCC dragged Mr Sirika, his daughter, Fatima, Jalal Sule Hamma and Al-Duraq Investment Nigeria Limited to court for abuse of office and contract fraud. They are standing trial before Justice Sylvanus Oriji on six counts. The minister, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari, was accused of abusing his office as a minister by awarding contracts to a company ...
World Toilet Day: NNPC Foundation advocates better sanitation policies, infrastructure
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World Toilet Day: NNPC Foundation advocates better sanitation policies, infrastructure

Officials of the NNPC Foundation Ltd./Gte. sensitising students of the Junior Secondary School, Peyi, Bwari Area Council, Abuja on sanitation in commemoration of the 2024 World Toilet Day By Emmanuella Anokam The NNPC Foundation Limited has reiterated its commitment to promote global awareness and advocacy for better policies to mitigate sanitation crisis. Mrs Emmanuella Arukwe, Managing Director NNPC Foundation Ltd., made this known on Tuesday while commemorating the 2024 World Toilet Day (WTD) at the Junior Secondary School, Peyi, Bwari Area Council, Abuja. Arukwe underscored the need to invest in sanitation infrastructure to ensure cleaner water, healthier communities and sustainable ecosystem. “NNPC Foundation is deeply committed to contributing to this global effort,” ...